djay, the groundbreaking, multiple Apple Design Award-winning music mixing app by Algoriddim for iPhone and iPad, is getting the biggest update in its history. And update is probably too small a word for it.
Over the years, djay fractured into free and Pro, audio and video versions, and it was a lot not just to keep track of but to maintain. Now, all of those versions are merging, yes like Voltron, into a single iOS app that simply, consistently, has it all.
It's a free download for iPhone and iPad in its classic form which includes so much functionality — way more than many of the paid versions past — that I'm guessing the casual and simply mix-curious will not only be satisfied with it, they'll be ecstatic.
Here's what you get for free:
Classic Mode - turntable view: Just two turntables and a mixer, with spinning discs that react just like vinyl does. Virtual grooves are individually rendered for every song on djay's virtual records. It allows to quickly identify breaks within a song, as if it was real vinyl fresh off the press. Load two tracks and fade between the two, and apply one of five free FX to the music on each deck.Automix Mode - simple mix view: The new Automix view allows you to mix your favorite music with the simple tap of a button. djay creates perfect sounding mixes from one song to the next and finds optimal transition points through its machine learning based Automix AI engine. Mixing songs has never been easier.Seamless Spotify Integration - mix millions of songs: Use the free version of djay with a Spotify Premium account to mix millions of songs instantly. Using Match, an innovative feature that recommends songs that go well with what the DJ is currently playing, Spotify integration in djay provides a list of matching songs based on danceability, BPM, key, and music style. This allows you to find the perfect next song to mix, as well as to discover new music based on your personal taste. And thanks to the new djay's enhanced integration, you can now save songs to your Spotify collection or playlists right from within djay. Using Automix AI users can trigger automatic, beat-matched transitions between their favorite songs on Spotify with the simple tap of a button.Hardware Integration - enhanced control: Connect one of the official djay controllers (Reloop Mixon 4, Beatpad and Beatpad 2, Mixtour, and Pioneer DJ WeGO4) for enhanced control of djay or upgrade to djay Pro from within the same app to use any class-compliant MIDI controller.
And, yeah, can Apple please beat the labels up until they let Apple Music integrate with stuff like this as well?
If you're a performer and/or a pro, you can get even more with the new subscription service. I know, I know, subscription fatigue and pile-up are real, but given how much is free, and how much value you can get on an ongoing basis, this one is more than just kinda clever.
Here's what you get with the Pro subscription:
Hundreds of samples and loops: The djay Pro subscription opens up access to over 1GB of audio loops from Loopmasters, samples from Future Loops, and video clips from DocOptic, along with 40+ professional audio FX from Sugar Bytes and various video FX. Get loops and sound packs from a wide range of popular genres such as Hip Hop, Deep House, EDM, and Trance, as well as more eclectic sounds from Ambient House, Electro Swing, or Jazz.... with more content to come for subscribed users.Multiple screens and peripherals**: Thanks to the USB-C port, users can now connect multiple devices to their iPad Pro. This allows users to output the visual mix to their big screen while jamming with an external controller – an essential feature for DJs and performing artists.Live performance and remixing: DJs wanting to spice up their sets can use the new sampler to record and sequence their loops during the mix. Those wanting to dive deeper into unique musical performance can load up the grid-based Looper with up to 48 loops, all time-stretched and perfectly matched to the beat in real-time.Every sample in the new looper can be assigned a video clip that plays in time with the audio. And thus, with the power of the A12 Bionic chip, you can now mix up to ten videos in real-time. DJs and VJs can finally leave the laptop at home, and mix videos and visual loops, in real-time, right on their mobile device.Advanced Automix AI: The advanced Automix mode allows users to automate their sets in advance with stunning transitions. Using machine learning and training sets from human DJs, Automix AI intelligently identifies rhythmic patterns and the best intro and outro sections of songs. Automix AI calculates optimal fade durations and automatically applies parameter changes to EQs and filters for a seamless transition. Users can fully customize their preferred mix settings and start the automix with a single tap.Powerful Audio and Graphics Technology: djay's audio, graphics, and sync engines were rebuilt from the ground up to include support for Post-Fader FX, high resolution colored waveforms at a silky smooth 60 fps (120 fps on iPad Pro), beat-locked Sync Mode, sequenced playback of samples, advanced video mixing, and ultra-low latency.Ableton Link : djay now has industry-standard Ableton Link for syncing tempo across compatible apps and devices on a shared network. Whether jamming with friends using desktop setups, or linking with other mobile apps, your tempo will be locked and flawless, even over Wi-Fi.MIDI: Support for over 50 MIDI controllers from Pioneer DJ, Reloop, Numark, Denon DJ, and others out-of-the-box. Advanced MIDI learn system to map each control on users' hardware individually. Support for Bluetooth MIDIAdvanced media library: playlist editing and management, smart filters, drag and drop integration via Files app and Dropbox
The subscription costs $4.99 a month and there's a free 7-day trial so you can decide if it's really worth it for you. If not, great, stick to the wildly encompassing free version.
Also, if you previously bought djay Pro, either on sale or at full price, and now you're looking for your seething at the mere thought someone else might get so much for free, put down your torch and pitchfork, and enjoy this:
Existing customers who have previously purchased any djay version on iOS are eligible for a special upgrade price of $9.99 for the first year. This is a discount of $30 or 83% off the standard price, which is a reward for previous customers' loyalty and support.
If you're all "I'll do you one better — why subscription?!" then check out Algoriddim's blog post on the subject:
With smartphones and tablets being so ubiquitous now, we want to once again open up DJing to even more people than ever before. We decided to make djay a free download again. Moreover, in the same way that djay made mixing music accessible to the masses, we wanted to do the same for creating music… music production relies on access to an extensive library of content.For a high quality and seamless experience we have licensed content from world-class artists and labels. Moving to in-app subscription gives us an easy way to add more packs, more sounds, more videos, in a way that ensures everyone has access to the same downloads, without further cost barrier. Customers pay monthly to access every official download as they're added. I've said this before and I'll say it again: I have absolutely no musical talent but Djay is the app that makes me regret that like no other. It's just so damn good. If you've always wanted to try out mixing — and now, producing — or you want to get your kids into it, download the new Djay now. It's stupefying to me how much they're giving away for free.
And if you are or want to go Pro, this is one of those beautiful confluences of features and content that's beyond worth it. Hell, even if you just host or attend parties more than once a month, it's beyond worth it. For less than the price of a fancy adult beverage you'll get to be the one that rocks the house and wows everyone in the room. In AI style.
The new djay is available now.
